Cohabitation Bill Supporters, Opponents Share Their Thoughts

Politicians and activists expressed their views on the passage of the Cohabitation Act by a 40-38 vote in the Parliament today.

Marko Mihkelson, IRL MP, commented on Facebook on his decision to abstain from voting, saying that in principle he has always supported the bill.

"I am convinced that Estonia's ability to succeed at the international level is also dependent on how open and tolerant our society is," he said to explain his decision to not vote against the bill, but added that: "I did not vote for the bill either because its authors have failed to explain its nature and aims sufficiently, because many of the proponents have started labelling the doubters and the opposition all the while talking of tolerance, and because the hasty processing of the bill has led to fissures in the society. We have a lot to learn from these proceedings," he said.

Kristen Michal of the Reform Party said before the vote that the bill has been in development for years, so all references to it being unexpected and rushed is distortion of the facts. "Even the Chancellor of Justice has ruled the bill to be in accord with the constitution. This law will not change what marriage represents," he said.

Erki Nool of IRL, who was absent from the voting but strongly opposed the act during the first two readings, told Delfi that he is away on official duties and "very sorry" that the act was passed but says he believes that his absence had no impact on the result.

"To be honest, Wednesday's proceedings showed how the power lines run and what the outcome would be. The Reform Party had very good control of the votes. The result could have theoretically been 41 for and 39 against; my presence, or that of one or two other MPs, wouldn't have made a difference," he said.

He also said that the act will probably generate a number of problems in the future. "This is the most substandard act that this Parliament has passed, leaving aside all arguments to whether one like the act or not. No one can say that this act is of good quality or good, many of the details will need to be revised."

Kadri Simson, one of four Center Party members who supported the bill, said that she has read a number of public statements and opinion pieces from both sides and that most of her supporters admit that the bill will have little to no impact on them personally.

Eiki Nestor of the Social Democrats said that he voted yes because the bill has the support of Estonian youth and he would not wish to explain to his children and grandchildren why he voted against it. He added: "This bill is not a "coalition bill" but was proposed by individual MPs, so claims that the coalition has forced it through are not correct."

Imre Sooäär, Reform Party MP and an initiator of the Act, said: “The Civil Partnership Act is another step closer to a more tolerant and socially inclusive society. I am extremely thankful to my colleagues who supported the bill as real statesmen in spite of strong opposition, and who stood for democracy and human rights even under great pressure.”

Peeter Rebane, a London-based film director and proucer and advocate for the Act: “It was a long fight for us to achieve something so basic and obvious. This act will guarantee the same-sex couples their fundamental rights that so-called traditional couples take for granted – a right to establish a family with the loved one, raise children, and enjoy financial benefits equal to married couples.”

Kari Käsper, head of the Estonian Human Rights Center, a human rights watchdog NGO: “By passing this law, Estonia gave an example to all countries in this region who hopefully will follow us. I am extremely glad that we are drifting away from Soviet-minded homophobia and moving towards free and tolerant society where all people are valued the same way and everyone has equal rights,” said

Direct democracy was possible and even necessary in Estonia, said historian Jaak Valge at the “Is Estonia Ready for Democracy?” conference at the National Library on Saturday. At the same time, the rules Estonia would introduce in connection with votes needed to be thoroughly discussed.

According to European Parliament member Urmas Paet, in addition to established routes through Turkey and Greece, and Libya and Italy, refugees are starting to migrate through Europe via a new path through Russia, which may begin to directly affect not just Norway and Finland, but also neighboring EU states Estonia and Latvia as well.

The decision phase has been reached in the question of merging Kernu, Nissi, and Saue parishes as well the town of Saue. Launched today and lasting until Sunday, a public opinion poll is open to all local residents at least 16 years of age regarding whether or not they support the merger and what they would like to name the newly formed parish.

After Edgar Savisaar was reelected leader of the Center Party last year, the number of its vice-chairpersons increased from two to four. The party’s constitution says Savisaar can appoint one of them to represent him whenever he is inconvenienced. But this might not be legal.

Digital Single Market EU Commissioner and former Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip on Friday criticized the Soldiers of Odin, a self-proclaimed vigilante group whose purported aim is to protect the native population from immigrants by patrolling the streets. Ansip said they were "only one step away from little green men.”

Reacting to criticism expressed in the President’s speech on Wednesday, Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas (Reform) said he wasn't in favor of decision-making by vote in the government, as this would not be fair toward the smaller coalition partners.

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves opened his Independence Day speech this year saying that he was afraid the migration crisis might lead to the disintegration of the European Union. Among other things, the President criticized that Estonia had wasted two years quarreling about how grown up people should arrange or should be allowed to arrange their private lives instead of talking about more important issues. Here is the President's speech in full length.

The Estonian government has no plans to open new accommodation units for asylum seekers, the Ministry of Social Affairs said, commenting on the buyer of a former army training base saying he was planning to convert it into a refugee housing facility and a care home.

Hoisting the flag at sunrise, laying of wreaths at the Victory Column, the Independence Day parade, award ceremonies, the grand concert in Estonia Concert Hall, the President's speech and reception: Estonia had a busy day on Wednesday.

US Secretary of State John Kerry offered congratulations to Estonia on behalf of the President and the citizens of the United States on the occasion of Estonia’s Independence Day. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to President Ilves.

Political commentators agree that the speech of Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas (Reform) in Tartu’s Vanemuine theatre on Tuesday covered everything that could be expected, and didn’t include anything surprising.

The Estonian flag is flown from sunrise to sunset. On the occasion of the 98th anniversary of the republic, several hundred people attended the hoisting of the flag on Pikk Hermann Tower on Toompea on Wednesday morning.

The first festive event of the 98th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia is the hoisting of the Estonian flag at sunrise on Toompea’s Pikk Hermann tower. ETV will broadcast the event live starting 7:30 Wednesday morning.

Sinine Äratus (Blue Awakening), the youth party of EKRE, has cautioned all people planning to attend their torch parade planned for Independence Day tomorrow Wednesday that placards, slogans and symbols not appropriate for the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia are not welcome.

Estonia is being ravaged by an HIV epidemic, and nobody knows just how many people are infected by the virus. Non-governmental organizations that deal with HIV-positive people on a daily basis confirm that Estonia has been pinning its hopes too much on funding from the European Social Fund.

In an interview with Päevaleht, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said that Estonia needed a government that actually governed the country. He also accused the government of being unwilling to take part in a wider debate about the country's tax system.

Ieva Ilves, wife of Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and patron of the Estonian branch of SOS Children's Villages, paid a visit to the local children's village and also gave a class as part of the Back to School Week in Põltsamaa on Friday.

Asked to comment on the fresh party ratings out on Friday, the chairman of the Social Democrats’ parliamentary party said that the opposition resorted to populism to boost its ratings. His counterpart of IRL said a rise in the rating of IRL still lied ahead.

The Supervisory Committee on Party Financing suspects that about €100,000 of the Center Party’s cash reserve represent illegal donations. The committee intends to send an auditor to check the party's finances.